geopolitics in asia: american influences in japan and south korea

American Influences in East

AsiaA Discussion on the influences of the United States of America in Japan and South Korea

Larroza, Rellama, Zajec

Where is which?

Overview: Japan• Capital: Tokyo• Population: Approximately 128 000 000• Land area: 378 000 km2

• Bounded by:o East – Pacific Oceano West – Sea of Japan, China, North Korea,

South Korea, Russiao North – Sea of Othotsko South – East China Sea, Taiwan

America and Japan• 1791, John Kendrick (first arrival in Japan)• 1848, James Glynn (first agreement)• 1852: Matthew Perry and the “Black Ships”

• American occupation after WWII: 1946 - 1952• Japan is the “pilot plant” of America’s Far Eastern

policies.

Japan after America

Military Forces

Economic Liberalization

Democratization

Trade Union Act

Labor Standards Act

Education Reform

Military Forces

World War II

Post-WWII Constitutio

n

American pressure to

rebuild army

6th largest military budget

Japan was not allowed to wage war or maintain

military forces.

DEMILITARIZATION

Threats of COMMUNISM

America wanted to use Japan as a bulwark

against Communism in Asia.

Democratization• The US Bill of Rights was one of those documents

that inspired the 1946 constitution of Japan.• Involved the:

o “De-politicization” of the Japanese royalty;o Enfranchisement of women;o Strengthening of the parliament’s power; ando Decentralization of the police and local government.

• Current form of government: Unitary Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy

Economic Liberalization

• When the demilitarization and democratization slowed down a bit, US authorities encouraged business practices.

• Monopolizing financial coalitions were abolished.• Land reform:

o Distribution of lands to peasants from wealthy landlords through the Japanese government

Trade Union Act• “To elevate the status of workers by promoting

their being on equal standing with the employer.”

Labor Standards Act• “Working conditions shall be those which should

meet the needs of workers who live lives worthy of human beings.”

Educational Reform

Imperial University System

After WWII: American System3-year junior high school

(compulsory) Senior high schools (optional)

Before WWII: German SystemGymnasiums and universities after primary school

Overview: South Korea• Capital: Seoul• Population: Approximately 48 875 000• Land area: 100 210 km2

• Bounded by:o East – East Sea, Japano West – Yellow Seao North – North Koreao South – Jeju Strait

Korea• Japanese colony (1919-1945)• Confucian heritage• World War II• Korean War

First encounters with USA

• American government: reason why there is a North and South Korea

• USA as a reliable hero!o Liberator, philanthropist and protector

• Korea received $800 million between 1965 and 1975

• normalized their relations with its former colonial enemy, Japan buffer

Military• Aided by American financial support and training• Allies in Korean War

o 20,000 troops fighting in Vietnam for the Vietnam Waro Received monetary rewards

• USA: anticommunism movements democracy • Protected SK from being taken over by North

Korean Communists

Military• Aided by American financial support and training• Allies in Korean War

o 20,000 troops fighting in Vietnam for the Vietnam Waro Received monetary rewards

• USA: anticommunism movements democracy • Protected SK from being taken over by North

Korean Communists

Government & Laws• Democracy• Family planning practices• Higher education: Fulbright Program• Nationalism

“Westernization”• 1960s: modernization and industrialization• Led to urbanizations and consumerism

o Fueled by influence of American popular culture

• Acquisition of anything reflecting American cultureo Improvement of social standing in Korean society

• Led to a more socially mobile societyo Appealing to many Koreans

• Infatuation with the West• Turned to US for insights about S&T – keys to

industrialization

Conclusions/Recommendations

• Identifying what is truly Japanese or Korean is not going to be easy as the US will most likely be always in the picture, therefore more careful research must be done to ensure greater sensitivity and clarity.

• Messing with South Korea and/or Japan would mean messing with the United States and its allies.

• The success/failure of South Korea and/or Japan can serve as a determinant to the success/failure of the United States, not just as a colonizer, but also as a nation (power).

Sources• Asahi Shimbun Staff, The Pacific rivals; a Japanese view of

Japanese-American relations, New York: Weatherhill, 1972.• Dower, John W. Japan in War and Peace. New York: The New

Press, 1993. ISBN 1-56584-067-4 or ISBN 1-56584-279-0• Kawai, Kazuo. "American influence on Japanese thinking"

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Vol. 278, 1951.

• Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Trading (Trade Union Law, Labor Standards Act)

• Kuppuswamy, C.S. “South East Asia: US Interests, Influence and Involvement.” South Asia Analysis Group. Retrieved from http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers22%5Cpaper2188.html

• http://www.eastwestcenter.org/news-center/east-west-wire/60-years-after-korean-war-peninsula-still-divided-and-tense

• http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=7678

• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110108190247AAdapMf

• http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/GS_PIPA_EU.html

• https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&doctype=cite&docid=22+S.+Ill.+U.+L.+J.+71&key=135e93007925294e6fbb54d350574dbc